WAC Basketball: In-depth look at Grand Canyon star Alessandro Lever

By Bryan Mauro | Oct 25, 2020

BOISE, ID - DECEMBER 13: Forward Alessandro Lever #25 of the Grand Canyon Lopes backs into the paint through the defense of guard Chandler Hutchison #15 of the Boise State Broncos during first half action on December 13, 2017 at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

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WAC Basketball Alessandro Lever (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

Why you should know Alessandro Level

WAC fans can’t believe that Lever is still in college. It feels as if the Italian big man has been in college for the better part of a decade. Even though it has only been 3 full seasons it seems like it has been so long because the list of accomplishments for the big man is long and they are going to longer this season.

Lever just completed his best season of his illustrious career last season. He is incredibly efficient on the offensive end as he shot over 53% from the floor last year and has turned himself into one of the best rebounders in the conference.

The big man is a three-year starter at Grand Canyon and he is 25 games away from playing in the most games of any player ever at Grand Canyon. In an ordinary season that 25 games would be a slam dunk and he would have been a lock to get that.

This season hopefully he will get the 25 games needed to break the record but who knows what is going to happen with the COVID-19 pandemic tightening its grip around America. One other record that the senior has in his sights is the 407 points he needs to become the school’s all-time leading scorer at the Division 1 level.

Lever is listed as a center but in reality, he can play four out of five positions. He is extremely versatile, as he can score from every level and can take and make a ton of threes. He is good driving to the basket, and coach Drew is going to be able to post him up in the low block on offense for easy points.

He is extremely skilled on offense and it more than makes up for the deficiencies that he has. At 6’10” tall the Italian provides nothing in the way of blocked shots or steals. He isn’t terrible on defense but is not a rim protector, that’s okay because with him not camped out in the paint on defense it enables the Antelopes to get out in transition and make sure their best offensive player is going to get a look at the basket.

Lever is a good piece to build around and with a new head coach who is going to utilize Lever in a lot of different ways his senior year will be his best yet.